Lorentz-invariant Theory Research Articles

Nucleon form factors of the isovector axial-vector current

The theoretical and experimental status of the isovector axial-vector current form factors G A(q 2) and G P(q 2) of the nucleon is reviewed. We also describe a new calculation of these form factors in manifestly Lorentz-invariant chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) with the inclusion of axial-vector mesons as explicit degrees of freedom.

Nonlinear properties of vielbein massive gravity

We propose a nonlinear extension of the Fierz–Pauli mass for the graviton through a functional of the vielbein and an external Minkowski background. The functional generalizes the notion of the measure, since it reduces to a cosmological constant if the external background is formally sent to zero. Such a term and the explicit external background emerge dynamically from a bi-gravity theory, having both a massless and a massive graviton in its spectrum, in a specific limit in which the massless mode decouples, while the massive one couples universally to matter. We investigate the massive theory using the Stuckelberg method and providing a ’t Hooft–Feynman gauge fixing, in which the tensor, vector and scalar Stuckelberg fields decouple. We show that this model has the softest possible ultraviolet behavior that can be expected from any generic (Lorentz-invariant) theory of massive gravity, namely that it becomes strong only at the scale Λ3=(mg 2MP)1/3.

Chiral expansion of the nucleon mass to order [formula omitted

We present the results of a complete two-loop calculation at order O(q6) of the nucleon mass in manifestly Lorentz-invariant chiral perturbation theory. The renormalization is performed using the reformulated infrared renormalization, which allows for the treatment of two-loop integrals while preserving all relevant symmetries, in particular chiral symmetry.

Electromagnetic interactions in a chiral effective lagrangian for nuclei

Electromagnetic (EM) interactions are incorporated in a recently proposed effective field theory of the nuclear many-body problem. Earlier work with this effective theory exhibited EM couplings that are correct only to lowest order in both the pion fields and the electric charge. The Lorentz-invariant effective field theory contains nucleons, pions, isoscalar scalar (σ) and vector (ω) fields, and isovector vector (ρ) fields. The theory exhibits a nonlinear realization of SU(2)L×SU(2)R chiral symmetry and has three desirable features: it uses the same degrees of freedom to describe the currents and the strong-interaction dynamics, it satisfies the symmetries of the underlying QCD, and its parameters can be calibrated using strong-interaction phenomena, like hadron scattering or the empirical properties of finite nuclei. It has been verified that for normal nuclear systems, the effective lagrangian can be expanded systematically in powers of the meson fields (and their derivatives) and can be truncated reliably after the first few orders. The complete EM lagrangian arising from minimal substitution is derived and shown to possess the residual chiral symmetry of massless, two-flavor QCD with EM interactions. The uniqueness of the minimal EM current is proved, and the properties of the isovector vector and axial-vector currents are discussed, generalizing earlier work. The residual chiral symmetry is maintained in additional (non-minimal) EM couplings expressed as a derivative expansion and in implementing vector meson dominance. The role of chiral anomalies in the EM lagrangian is briefly discussed.

Axial, induced pseudoscalar, and pion-nucleon form factors in manifestly Lorentz-invariant chiral perturbation theory

We calculate the nucleon form factors ${G}_{A}$ and ${G}_{P}$ of the isovector axial-vector current and the pion-nucleon form factor ${G}_{\ensuremath{\pi}N}$ in manifestly Lorentz-invariant baryon chiral perturbation theory up to and including order $\mathcal{O}({p}^{4})$. In addition to the standard treatment including the nucleon and pions, we also consider the axial-vector meson ${a}_{1}$ as an explicit degree of freedom. This is achieved by using the reformulated infrared renormalization scheme. We find that the inclusion of the axial-vector meson effectively results in one additional low-energy coupling constant that we determine by a fit to the data for ${G}_{A}$. The inclusion of the axial-vector meson results in an improved description of the experimental data for ${G}_{A}$, while the contribution to ${G}_{P}$ is small.

Ordinary muon capture on a proton in manifestly Lorentz invariant baryon chiral perturbation theory

The amplitude for ordinary muon capture on the proton is evaluated, through the first four orders in the expansion parameter, in a manifestly Lorentz invariant form of baryon chiral perturbation theory. Expressions for the low energy constants in terms of physical quantities are obtained in each of the several renormalization schemes which have been proposed for forcing the relativistic approach to obey the same counting rules as obtained in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. The advantages and disadvantages of these schemes are discussed, using the muon capture results as an example, with the aim of gaining insight as to which scheme is preferable for practical calculations.

Unusual high-energy phenomenology of Lorentz-invariant noncommutative field theories

It has been suggested that one may construct a Lorentz-invariant noncommutative field theory by extending the coordinate algebra to additional, fictitious coordinates that transform nontrivially under the Lorentz group. Integration over these coordinates in the action produces a four-dimensional effective theory with Lorentz invariance intact. Previous applications of this approach, in particular to a specific construction of noncommutative QED, have been studied only in a low-momentum approximation. Here we discuss Lorentz-invariant field theories in which the relevant physics can be studied without requiring an expansion in the inverse scale of noncommutativity. Qualitatively, we find that tree-level scattering cross sections are dramatically suppressed as the center-of-mass energy exceeds the scale of noncommutativity, that cross sections that are isotropic in the commutative limit can develop a pronounced angular dependence, and that nonrelativistic potentials (for example, the Coloumb potential) become nonsingular at the origin. We consider a number of processes in noncommutative QED that may be studied at a future linear collider. We also give an example of scattering via a four-fermion operator in which the noncommutative modifications of the interaction can unitarize the tree-level amplitude, without requiring any other new physics in the ultraviolet.

Magnetic dipole moment of the Δ(1232) in chiral perturbation theory

The magnetic dipole moment of the Δ(1232) is calculated in the framework of manifestly Lorentz-invariant baryon chiral perturbation theory in combination with the extended on-mass-shell renormalization scheme. As in the case of the nucleon, at leading order both isoscalar and isovector anomalous magnetic moments are given in terms of two low-energy constants. In contrast to the nucleon case, at next-to-leading order the isoscalar anomalous magnetic moment receives a (real) loop contribution. Moreover, due to the unstable nature of the Δ(1232), at next-to-leading order the isovector anomalous magnetic moment not only receives a real but also an imaginary loop contribution.

Exact time dependent Hopf solitons in 3+1 dimensions

We construct an infinite number of exact time dependent soliton solutions, carrying non-trivial Hopf topological charges, in a 3+1 dimensional Lorentz invariant theory with target space S^2. The construction is based on an ansatz which explores the invariance of the model under the conformal group SO(4,2) and the infinite dimensional group of area preserving diffeomorphisms of S^2. The model is a rare example of an integrable theory in four dimensions, and the solitons may play a role in the low energy limit of gauge theories.

BARYON CHIRAL PERTURBATION THEORY IN MANIFESTLY LORENTZ-INVARIANT FORM

A successful effective field theory program requires besides the most general effective Lagrangian a perturbative expansion scheme for observables in terms of a consistent power counting method. We discuss a renormalization scheme for manifestly Lorentz-invariant baryon chiral perturbation theory generating a simple and consistent power counting for renormalized diagrams. The approach may be used in an iterative procedure to renormalize higher-order loop diagrams and also allows for implementing a consistent power counting when vector mesons are explicitly included.

COMMENTS ON "ON THE SPEED OF GRAVITY AND THE JUPITER/QUASAR MEASUREMENT" BY S. SAMUEL

A recent review article by S. Samuel "On the Speed of Gravity and the Jupiter/Quasar Measurement" published as Int. J. Mod. Phys. D13, 1753 (2004), provides the reader with a misleading "theory" of the relativistic time delay in the general theory of relativity. Furthermore, it misquotes original publications by Kopeikin and Fomalont and Kopeikin related to the measurement of the speed of gravity by VLBI. We summarize the general relativistic principles of the Lorentz-invariant theory of the propagation of light in a time-dependent gravitational field, derive a Lorentz-invariant expression for the relativistic time delay, and finally explain why Samuel's "theory" is conceptually incorrect and confuses the speed of gravity with the speed of light.

Including theΔ(1232)resonance in baryon chiral perturbation theory

Baryon chiral perturbation theory with explicit $\ensuremath{\Delta}(1232)$ degrees of freedom is considered. The most general interactions of pions, nucleons, and \ensuremath{\Delta} consistent with all underlying symmetries as well as with the constraint structure of higher-spin fields are constructed. By use of the extended on-mass-shell renormalization scheme, a manifestly Lorentz-invariant effective-field theory with a systematic power counting is obtained. As applications, we discuss the mass of the nucleon, the pion-nucleon \ensuremath{\sigma} term, and the pole of the \ensuremath{\Delta} propagator.

Electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon in chiral perturbation theory including vector mesons

We calculate the electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon up to fourth order in manifestly Lorentz-invariant chiral perturbation theory with vector mesons as explicit degrees of freedom. A systematic power counting for the renormalized diagrams is implemented using both the extended on-mass-shell renormalization scheme and the reformulated version of infrared regularization. We analyze the electric and magnetic Sachs form factors, $G_E$ and $G_M$, and compare our results with the existing data. The inclusion of vector mesons results in a considerably improved description of the form factors. We observe that the most dominant contributions come from tree-level diagrams, while loop corrections with internal vector meson lines are small.

Strong magnetic limit of string theory

We show that there exists a certain limit in type I and type II superstring theory in the presence of a suitable configuration of magnetic U(1) fields where all string excitations get an infinite mass, except for the neutral massless sector and for the boson and fermion string states lying on the leading Regge trajectory. For a supersymmetric configuration of magnetic fields in internal directions, the resulting theory after the limit is a 3+1 Lorentz invariant supersymmetric theory. Supersymmetry can be broken by introducing extra components of the magnetic field or else by finite temperature. In both cases we compute the one-loop partition function for the type I string model after taking the limit, which turns out to be different from the Yang-Mills result that arises by a direct $\alpha'\to 0$ limit. In the case of finite temperature, no Hagedorn transition appears, in consistency with the reduction of the string spectrum. In type II superstring theory, the analogous limit is constructed by starting with a configuration of Melvin twists in two or more complex planes. The resulting theory contains gravitation plus an infinite number of states of the leading Regge trajectory.

Why is Schrödinger's equation linear?

Information-theoretic arguments are used to obtain a link between the accurate linearity of Schrodinger's equation and Lorentz invariance: A possible violation of the latter at short distances would imply the appearance of nonlinear corrections to quantum theory. Nonlinear corrections can also appear in a Lorentz invariant theory in the form of higher derivative terms that are determined by a length scale, possibly the Planck length. It is suggested that the best place to look for evidence of such quantum nonlinear effects is in neutrino physics and cosmology.

Spontaneous Lorentz violation, Nambu-Goldstone modes, and gravity

The fate of the Nambu-Goldstone modes arising from spontaneous Lorentz violation is investigated. Using the vierbein formalism, it is shown that up to 10 Lorentz and diffeomorphism Nambu-Goldstone modes can appear and that they are contained within the 10 modes of the vierbein associated with gauge degrees of freedom in a Lorentz-invariant theory. A general treatment of spontaneous local Lorentz and diffeomorphism violation is given for various spacetimes, and the fate of the Nambu-Goldstone modes is shown to depend on both the spacetime geometry and the dynamics of the tensor field triggering the spontaneous Lorentz violation. The results are illustrated within the general class of bumblebee models involving vacuum values for a vector field. In Minkowski and Riemann spacetimes, the bumblebee model provides a dynamical theory generating a photon as a Nambu-Goldstone boson for spontaneous Lorentz violation. The Maxwell and Einstein-Maxwell actions are automatically recovered in axial gauge. Associated effects of potential experimental relevance include Lorentz-violating couplings in the matter and gravitational sectors of the Standard-Model Extension and unconventional Lorentz-invariant couplings. In Riemann-Cartan spacetime, the possibility also exists of a Higgs mechanism for the spin connection, leading to the absorption of the propagating Nambu-Goldstone modes into the torsion component of the gravitational field.

On the Way to Experimental Test of the Time Reversal Invariance in the Nuclear Reactions

T violation can be related with the CP-violation through Luders–Pauli's CPT theorem, which is related with a local Lorentz invariant field theory. The CP violation was discovered experimentally in the K 0-meson decays about 35 years ago. The T violating interaction related with the CP violation violates parity as well. However, an extension of the theory beyond the locality of the interactions might violate the CPT theorem. The result of CPLEAR experiment [Angelopolos A. et al., (1998), “First direct observation of time-reversal non-invariance in the neutral-kaon system”, Phys. Lett. B 444 43], which has given direct evidence of T violation in the elementary-particle phenomena, could be considered under assumption of the CPT invariance.

Baryon masses and nucleon sigma terms in manifestly Lorentz-invariant baryon chiral perturbation theory

We discuss the masses of the ground state baryon octet and the nucleon sigma terms in the framework of manifestly Lorentz-invariant baryon chiral perturbation theory. In order to obtain a consistent power counting for renormalized diagrams the extended on-mass-shell renormalization scheme is applied.

Supertwistors and cubic string field theory for open [formula omitted] strings

The known Lorentz invariant string field theory for open N=2 strings is combined with a generalization of the twistor description of anti-self-dual (super-)Yang–Mills theories. We introduce a Chern–Simons-type Lagrangian containing twistor variables and derive the Berkovits–Siegel covariant string field equations of motion via the twistor correspondence. Both the purely bosonic and the maximally space–time supersymmetric cases are considered.

Chiral extrapolations of baryon masses for unquenched three-flavor lattice simulations

We have analyzed the chiral expansion of the baryon masses to second order in the quark masses, including strong isospin violation. The calculations are performed in Lorentz-invariant baryon chiral perturbation theory. Chiral extrapolation functions for three-flavor unquenched lattice simulations are derived. The matching to the two-flavor case and the sigma terms are also considered.